CCFP Career Series: Policy & Advocacy Work in the Nonprofit Sector

Join us to learn about working at policy and advocacy nonprofit organizations. We will be joined by Neil Harrington from NC Child, Brennan Lewis from Equality NC, and Elizabeth Paul from the Public School Forum on North Carolina. Our panelists are working to improve the lives of North Carolinians through their work at nonprofits focused on children and families, education, and the LGBTQ+ community. Panelists will talk about what they do, why they enjoy the work they do, what led them to their current positions and how to pursue non-profit policy jobs.

Neil is the Research Director for NC Child where he is passionate about using data and research to illustrate the experiences of North Carolina children and families and identify areas in which state policy can improve opportunities for all children to succeed. Prior to NC Child, Neil worked for the Labor & Economic Analysis Division at the NC Department of Commerce and a research and public relations consulting firm in Jackson, Mississippi. Neil holds a BA in political science from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy.

As the Policy and Research Manager at the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Elizabeth leads the Forum's research, advocacy, and publication work, with a primary focus is on policy and data analysis, especially as it relates to school finance and student outcomes. Elizabeth is a first-generation college student and holds a B.S. in Human and Organizational Development and a B.A in English from Vanderbilt University, along with a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy.

Brennan's career has focused on helping to elevates the voices, work, and lives of LGBTQ youth. Currently Brennan works as an Education Policy Associate at Equality NC. Previously, they served as the Regional Manager for the U.S. & Canada at Peace First. Additionally, Brennan is the founder of the Raleigh-based LGBTQ youth group QueerNC. Brennan is dedicated to mobilizing young people to lead change both in North Carolina and globally. They obtained a BA in Public Policy and Women's and Gender Studies from UNC Chapel Hill and spent time as a Duke student during undergrad as a Robertson Scholar.